History of Lumbini

Thought to have been born in 623 BC (sources vary), Gautama Siddhartha Buddha was the founder of Buddhism.

At one point, Lumbini had a rich array of monasteries, temples and other monuments dedicated to Buddha and his mother, Maya Devi. However, for reasons which remain largely unknown, the area fell into decline for centuries, only to be rediscovered in the 19th century. Despite its derelict state, the site still housed the ruins of numerous structures dating from the 3rd century BC to the 19th century. Lumbini has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.

Lumbini today

The holy site measures 3 miles in length and 1 miles wide: in it, only monasteries can be built. In addition to Buddhist monastery ruins, the main attractions are the third century BC Ashoka’s Pillar, the Maya Devi Temple on the site of Buddha’s birth and the museum. There is also a small museum which chronicles Buddha’s life and houses a series of artefacts from excavations of Lumbini. There are also a remarkable number of temples within the compound that are a joy to explore.

Lumbini has also become a site for international development after NGOs set up educational projects and charities in the vicinity. The site is also a place of Hindu worship and there is a Buddhist Peace Pagoda in the park too.

Getting to Lumbini

Lumbini is not far from Nepal’s southern border with India: it’s around 6 hours drive from Lucknow and 8 from Kathmandu. The Gautam Buddha Airport serves Lumbini and has domestic flights to and from Kathmandu – it’s about 30 minutes from Lumbini.

Maya Devi Temple history

Around 563 BC, the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama is believed to have been born at the site of Lumbini. His mother, Maya Devi, was a Koliyan princess married to Suddhodana. In the Shakyas tradition, a tribe of rice-farmers near the India-Nepal border, the pregnant Queen Maya left Kapilavastu for her father’s kingdom to give birth. However, in Buddhist tradition, Buddha was born underneath a sal tree in Lumbini during the journey.

The original Maya Devi Temple was built during the Emperor Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini around 249 BC, using burnt bricks to safeguard the Nativity Sculpture and Marker Stone where Maya Devi had given birth. This temple was rediscovered in 1896 by General Khadga Shamsher and Dr. Anton Fuhrer, who also interpreted the Ashokan Pillar, recognising Lumbini as Buddha’s birthplace.

The mound of the original temple was excavated further by Sir Kaiser Shumsher, reconstructing the temple in 1939. The present Maya Devi Temple was built in 2003 by the Lumbini Development Trust.

In 2013, an international team of archaeologists digging underneath the temple found remains of an ancient tree shrine dated before 550 BC. Researchers, including the excavation leader Robin Coningham of Durham University, speculated this was one of the earliest Buddhist shrines in the world, although this conclusion was cautioned by other academics.

Maya Devi Temple today

Today, the Maya Devi Temple is undoubtedly one of the most revered sites in Buddhism, and therefore a popular site of pilgrimage. Visitors can go inside the current temple to view the original temple platform dating from the 3rd century BC.

Surrounding the temple in the sacred garden, you can also see ancient ruins of stupas, the sacred pool and maroon- and saffron-robed monks congregating under a Bodhi tree adorned with prayer flags.

Bring shoes that can be removed easily at the gate.

Getting to the Maya Devi Temple

The Maya Devi Temple is located at the farthest end of the Lumbini site, a 2.5km walk from the bus park. Lumbini is a 10 hour drive from Kathmandu and a 30 minute drive from the nearest airport at Bhairahawa. The Indian border town of Sonauli is a 1 hour drive from Lumbini, and Nautanwa railway station in India is just a few kilometres away.

History of The Ashokan Pillar

The Ashokan Pillars are a series of columns throughout the Indian subcontinent, and are among the earliest known stone sculptural monuments in India. They were built or at least inscribed by the Emperor Ashoka during his reign from 268 to 232 BC. The pillars were built at Buddhist monasteries and places of pilgrimage as well as many important sites from Buddha’s life. The pillars are important monuments of India’s architectural past, with most of them exhibiting the famous smooth and shiny Mauryan stone polish. 

The sandstone Ashokan Pillar at Lumbini is one of the most revered monuments in the area. There are ancient historical records from between the 5th and 7th century that discuss the search for Buddha’s birthplace, which was said to be in Lumbini. The Lumbini pillar itself was mentioned in these ancient texts, and was positioned where Buddha was born. In the ancient description, it is noted that the pillar used to be crowned by a sculpture of a horse, but even by then, the pillar had broken in half, and was partially buried. 

In 1896, due to these historical records, the governor of Palpa General Khadge Samsher Rana and Alois Anton Fuhrer re-discovered the great stone pillar. 

When they dug down and unearthed the pillar, they discovered an ancient Brahmi inscription on the side, buried about a metre beneath ground level. The inscription gives evidence that the aforementioned Emperor Ashoka visited in the 3rd century BC, and identified the pillar’s location as the birthplace of Buddha.

The Ashokan Pillar Today

The Ashokan Pillar now stands outside the Maya Devi Temple, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Combined with the temple, the Pillar is a hugely popular tourist attraction for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. It is also a key destination for many Buddhist pilgrimages. The area itself is historically and spiritually fascinating, with the holy site of Lumbini being bordered by a large monastic zone in which strictly only monasteries are allowed to be built.

From early in the morning to early in the evening, pilgrims from different countries chant and meditate at the site. The Pillar is normally accessible between 6am and 6pm.

There are other places to visit in Lumbini, including the Maya Devi Temple, the World Peace Pagoda, the Myanmar Golden Temple, and the Lumbini Crane Sanctuary.

Getting to The Ashokan Pillar

Lumbini ia a 10 hour drive from Kathmandu and a 30 minute drive from Bhairahawa. The nearest airport is Gautam Buddha Airport at Bhairahawa, with flights running to and from Kathmandu. The India border town of Sonauli in the Maharajganj district is a 1 hour drive from Lumbini, and Nautanwa railway station in India is just a few kilometres away. The nearest big city is Gorakhpur which is about 100km and a 4 hour drive away from Lumbini. 

The Lumbini Museum history

A pillar found at Rupandehi in 1896 by General Khada Samsher Rana and German Indologist Alois Anton Führer, was believed to mark the spot of a visit to Lumbini from Ashoka, a great Indian emperor who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from c. 268 to 232 BC. The inscription on the pillar described the purpose of Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini was to see the Buddha’s birthplace.

In the early 1970s, award winning Japanese architect, Kenzō Tange, was commissioned by an international committee to create a ‘Master Plan’ for Lumbini. His vision was to make Lumbini a site for people to imagine world peace, reflecting Buddha’s message and journey towards enlightenment. The Lumbini Museum was positioned with the International Research institute at the Sacred Garden’s entrance: starting place of the pilgrim’s journey.

The museum’s distinctive curved shape was a combination of Tange’s modernism and traditional Japanese style, which aimed to incorporate buildings into the natural environment and reflect the identity of the users.

The Lumbini Museum today

The museum is located at the entrance to the Sacred Garden Area of Lumbini, Nepal’s most iconic archaeological, cultural and spiritual site. The exhibition about the life of Gautama Buddha is spread throughout several rooms, including artefacts, statues, photos and other significant Buddha iconography. One section of the museum displays traditional dress and ceremonial wear which have been influenced by Lumbini culture.

While the museum has limited signage, work is currently ongoing to develop the current museum into a contemporary learning site by 2022. You can stop to admire Tange’s museum which looks particularly stunning reflected in the pool in front. Be advised the complex is large – it takes 40 minutes to walk between the entrance and Maya Devi Temple, which can be uncomfortable in the Nepalese summer heat. Wear comfortable shoes that are easily removable for entering sacred sites.

Getting to the Lumbini Museum

The journey from the Indian border town Sonauli to Lumbini is a bumpy 40 minute drive. Wherever you drive from, it’s a 5 minute walk from the Lumbini Bus Park to the museum. If you’ve flown into Kathmandu, Nepal’s international airport, getting to Lumbini requires an 8 hour car journey.